The Athlete

Héritier Lumumba enjoyed a distinguished career in Australian Football league, having played over 200 games, he shares this milestone with the game’s elite. Héritier Lumumba’s rise to prominence spans over a 10+ year journey of dedication, courage and resilience.

After failing to be selected in the 2004 AFL National draft, Lumumba initiated contact with the Collingwood football Club and requested an opportunity to prove his worth for a spot on the team’s Rookie list. After 2 weeks of training at Collingwood, he made a strong impression with his determination and talent and was subsequently recruited with pick 20 of the 2004 AFL rookie draft.

In his first year on Collingwood’s Rookie list, Lumumba found consistency in the VFL and was elevated onto the club’s senior list, and he made his debut against Fremantle in round 18 of the 2005 AFL season.

Despite Lumumba’s excellent form in the first half of his second AFL season (2006), Lumumba was required to return back onto Collingwood’s rookie list, prompting Collingwood’s senior coach, Mick Malthouse, to publicly challenge the League’s rules for rookie listed players.

In 2008, he won the ‘Jack Regan Trophy’ for finishing 5th in the Collingwood best and fairest. In 2009, Lumumba won both the ‘JF McHale Trophy’, for coming fourth in the Club’s best and fairest, and the ‘Darren Milane medal’ awarded to the best ‘clubman’.

Lumumba gained the distinction of becoming a ‘premiership player’ after Collingwood’s victory in the 2010 AFL Grand Final. He was also credited with an All Australian selection for that season, for his exemplary consistency in his position.

Lumumba’s flare and ‘dancing feet’ are commonly referred to by commentators, an asset he attributes to his African (Congolese) and Brazilian heritage.

At the end of the 2014 season, and 10 years at the Collingwood Football club, Lumumba was traded to the Melbourne Football club. In 2015 he was selected in Melbourne’s leadership group after making an instant impact on the team.

The story of Heritier’s trials and triumphs in the AFL will be showcased in the forthcoming documentary, Fair Game.

Highlights

2015 HIGHS

Disposals

25 v Adelaide, 18th Apr 2015

Kicks

12 v Sydney, 9th May 2015 *

Handballs

14 v Collingwood, 8th Jun 2015

Marks

6 v Fremantle, 3rd May 2015

Goals

1 v Port Adelaide, 30th May 2015 *

Tackles

8 v Western Bulldogs, 24th May 2015

Hitouts

4 v Fremantle, 3rd May 2015

Supercoach

109 v Adelaide, 18th Apr 2015

AFL Fantasy

103 v Adelaide, 18th Apr 2015

CAREER HIGHS

Disposals31 v Geelong, 18th May 2013 *

Kicks20 v St Kilda, 3rd May 2013 *

Handballs19 v Brisbane, 12th May 2012

Marks10 v West Coast, 3rd Jul 2010 *

Goals1 v Port Adelaide, 30th May 2015 *

Tackles9 v Sydney, 8th Sep 2007

Hitouts4 v Fremantle, 3rd May 2015 *

Supercoach141 v Geelong, 18th May 2013

AFL Fantasy125 v St Kilda, 3rd May 2013

* Season/career high achieved two or more times. Match shown is the most recent game when season/career high was attained.